FAQs
The long-term cultural and socio-economic well-being of the Amity Point community
Traditional Owner knowledge about the cultural, historical, and environmental values of the island
Redland City Council planning requirements and public safety responsibilities
The natural physical and ecological processes acting upon and within the island’s coastal zone
Local knowledge and expertise of Amity Point residents
State and Federal Government planning requirements, environmental and coastal management legislation, regulation, and policies
Relevant technical data, including further shoreline erosion research to be undertaken by Council, and other relevant external scientific studies
- Northern: Ongoing beach surveys and coastal process studies
- Central: Formalisation and maintenance of the rock structure along the foreshore, known as a flow slide barrier
- Southern: Construction of a buried seawall and sand nourishment
- The works must be undertaken in accordance with the Safety Management Plan for the Amity Point flow slide barrier that is contained in the Amity Point SEMP.
- Landowners are responsible for organising all works with a contractor, including sorting, loading, transportation, and placement of rock.
- For emergency works, Section 166 of the Planning Act 2016 requires anyone undertaking works to notify the enforcement authority and make a development application as soon as reasonably possible.
What is a Shoreline Erosion Management Plan?
A Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP) is a non-statutory planning document that outlines an agreed framework and strategy to manage and respond to current and future erosion risks.
The SEMP assesses the sustainable use, development, and management of land vulnerable to erosion by considering the environmental, economic, and cultural values of the area and the coastal processes occurring on the foreshore.
The SEMP outlines the appropriate use of erosion-prone land, and long-term management goals, as agreed by the State Government and community.
Why do we need a Shoreline Erosion Management Plan?
The SEMP enables Redland City Council to obtain a detailed technical understanding of the coastal processes at Amity Point, opens an avenue for engagement with the community, and provides a tool for agencies responsible for application decisions.
Factors that will be considered in the planning process include:
What is the purpose of the Community Reference Group?
The primary purpose of the Community Reference Group is to work with Redland City Council officers, contributing their expertise and knowledge to shoreline erosion planning for Amity Point.
The group also provides valuable local input to ensure the delivery of a Shoreline Erosion Management Plan that meets the current and long-term needs of the community.
What areas of Redlands Coast are at high-risk?
The 2016 Coastal Adaptation Strategy: Phase 1 - Current Hazards identified Amity Point on North Stradbroke Island as the only area at high risk of coastal erosion. This is due to the significant coastal erosion that has occurred along the Amity Point foreshore over a long period of time, resulting in the loss of public and private land.
Amity Point is a declared Erosion Prone Area under the Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995.
Coochiemudlo Island was considered at medium-risk and requiring further detailed planning through the development of a Shoreline Erosion Management Plan.
What are the recommended management actions for each reach?
The SEMP’s recommended actions for the three reaches include:
There’s public and private land along the Amity Point foreshore. Who is responsible for funding the foreshore protection works?
It is important to note that the central reach foreshore includes both public and private land.
Council is responsible for Council land and assets and decisions regarding sections of the flow slide barrier that protects local roads and parks.
The construction and maintenance of works to protect private properties from erosion is the responsibility of private landowners. Council will assist landowners by applying for a high-level preliminary approval of the flow slide barrier so landowners can proceed with carrying out the work required to protect their properties. Landowners are responsible for ensuring they have obtained the necessary permits and approvals and undertake relevant notifications to deliver any work on the section of the flow slide barrier that protects their land.
Who was consulted during the development of the SEMP and Implementation Plan?
Council undertook consultation throughout the development of the SEMP and Implementation Plan with stakeholders, including Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation, State Government agencies, private landowners and the project’s Community Reference Group.
Council will continue to engage with landowners and other stakeholders regarding the implementation of the SEMP.
Who is responsible for delivering the recommended management actions in the northern and southern reaches?
The Implementation Plan includes recommendations for the delivery of actions in the northern and southern reaches for both Council and other stakeholders.
What is an Implementation Plan and why is it needed?
The Amity Point Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP) recommendations for the central reach, in particular, involve technical constraints, regulatory requirements, legal considerations, and landowner engagement.
The Amity Point SEMP Implementation Plan was commissioned to consider these factors and outline the best way for Council and private landowners to implement the SEMP recommendations.
The recommendations are outlined in Fact Sheet 1 available on the main page in the 'Fact Sheets' section.
What is Council’s responsibility?
Council is responsible for protecting Council land and assets and decisions regarding sections of the flow slide barrier that protects local roads and parks.
What is the responsibility of private landowners living in the central reach?
Private landowners are responsible for protecting their property, which includes arranging and funding initial construction and ongoing maintenance costs. Landowners will need to ensure they have obtained the necessary permits and approvals and undertake the relevant notifications to carry out any work on the section of the flow slide barrier that protects their land. This may include the required permits and approvals listed under the Planning Act 2016 and Marine Parks Act 2004 for the construction and maintenance of tidal works.
Private landowners are responsible for organising all works with a contractor, including sorting, loading, transportation, and placement of rock.
Will Council assist private landowners in this process?
Yes. The Implementation Plan recommends that Council assist residents by applying for a high-level preliminary approval, which will specify the alignment and general characteristics of the flow slide barrier and establish in-principle support of the structure. This will assist private landowners when applying for the site-specific development permits that they require.
Council will also undertake a regular structural audit of the flow slide barrier and share the results with landowners.
Council is supporting research led by the University of Queensland to investigate the causes of the flow slide events responsible for the foreshore erosion at Amity Point.
In the event of an emergency, where can private landowners source rock from to carry out emergency work on the flow slide barrier?
Landowners can source rock from any commercial quarry on North Stradbroke Island or the mainland that can supply rock to the required specification.
Rock supply from Council’s North Stradbroke Island quarry is at this time available to landowners required to undertake emergency works to the flow slide barrier, however Council is unable to guarantee the future price or availability of this rock supply due to potential changes to statutory requirements and/ or other operational matters. Council endeavours to take all reasonable steps possible to facilitate this rock supply.
Council’s Register of Fees, which includes the price of the rock, is reviewed annually. To view Council fees for the current year, visit redland.qld.gov.au/info/20169/rates_fees_and_infringements/391/council_fees
Landowners undertaking emergency works also need to be aware of the following:
Where can private landowners, who are responsible for constructing and maintaining the section of the flow slide barrier that protects their land, source rock from to uphold this responsibility?
The Implementation Plan recommends that Council assist landowners with access to this rock for the construction and ongoing maintenance of the flow slide barrier, however Council is unable to guarantee the future price or availability of this rock supply due to potential changes to statutory requirements and/ or other operational matters. Council endeavours to take all reasonable steps possible to facilitate this rock supply.
Landowners who require rock for the construction and ongoing maintenance of the flow slide barrier can source rock from any commercial quarry on North Stradbroke Island or the mainland that can supply rock to the required specification.
Landowners will need to ensure they have obtained the necessary permits and approvals and undertake the relevant notifications to carry out any work on the section of the flow slide barrier that protects their land. This may include the required permits and approvals listed under the Planning Act 2016 and Marine Parks Act 2004 for the construction and maintenance of tidal works.
Private landowners are responsible for organising all works with a contractor, including sorting, loading, transportation, and placement of rock.
Where can I view a copy of the Implementation Plan?
The SEMP and Implementation Plan documents are available on the main page in the 'Documents' section.